In vivo regulation of rRNA transcription occurs rapidly in nondividing and dividing Drosophila cells in response to a phorbol ester and serum.

The synthesis of ribosomes is an essential cellular process which requires the transcription of the rRNA genes by RNA polymerase I (Pol I). The regulation of rRNA synthesis is known to be coupled to growth regulation. In nongrowing, slowly growing, and rapidly growing Drosophila cells, exposure to the tumor-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) increases the synthesis of precursor and mature rRNAs. Using nuclear run-on assays, we show that TPA enhances transcription of the rRNA genes. These results suggest that TPA regulates expression of RNA genes transcribed by Pol I, irrespective of the growth state of the cells. In slowly dividing Drosophila cells, increasing the serum concentration rapidly alters the accumulation of rRNA by enhancing rDNA transcription within 1 h. Thus, TPA and serum are each able to rapidly regulate rRNA gene expression in Drosophila cells. These results indicate that the RNA Pol I transcription system can be regulated by agents which have previously been shown to effect specific genes transcribed by the RNA Pol II system.